Our investigation found:

On one side is the diverse, and, in some cases more liberal, Syrian population, along with the international community, whose acceptance is crucial for HTS's survival and legitimacy. To them, the hair covering incident offered a troubling glimpse into Syria's potential future under HTS, expressing fears that conservative policies could eventually mandate the veil for all women.On the other side, Islamist hardliners criticised al-Sharaa for taking the photo at all, describing the woman as a "mutabarijah" - a term for a woman perceived to dress immodestly or wear makeup - and insisting his action violated religious rules.

These hardliners hold significant sway over militant factions and could rally opposition within al-Sharaa's own Islamist base.of attempting to reconcile these competing demands - balancing the expectations of the international community and the liberal parts of Syria's population with the demands of the hardline base. Both sides are closely scrutinising HTS's every statement and action.The group's ability to navigate these tensions will be critical to maintaining control and pursuing its political ambitions.

In his messages, he has focused on coexistence within Syria's diverse society, granted amnesty to former military conscripts, prohibited acts of vigilante revenge against ex-government personnel and loyalists, and adopted neutral and at times conciliatory language when addressing traditional adversaries, including Israel, the US, Iran and Russia.His statements have been deliberately devoid of inflammatory rhetoric or threats, instead centring on themes of reconciliation, stability, and reconstruction, in a clear effort to neutralise opposition and push for the removal of HTS and al-Sharaa himself from

It is still unclear whether al-Sharaa's flexible approach represents a genuine ideological shift or a calculated strategy aimed at winning approval and consolidating power before potentially implementing a stricter and more religiously conservative agenda.

But already his more progressive moves are sparking significant unease among hardliners in Syria, who insist on an Islamist government rooted in a strict and distinctive Sunni identity. While Sunni Arabs are the dominant ethnic and religious group in Syria, the country is notably diverse, with a range of minority groups including Shia Alawites, of which the ousted president Bashar al-Assad is a member, Kurds, Christians, Druze, Turkmen and Ismailis, in addition to other small groups.Members of the public previously

over the lack of consultation about the decision and the impact it would have on accessibility.This week, a spokesperson for PCC said restoration works, costing about £1.2m, had been agreed and the bridges were expected to reopen by April 2025.

Bridges at the reserve are inspected every two years and in January, the council said signs of degradation were found.The review noted that three bridges, adjacent to Baron Court, Lakeside and Welbourne, had deteriorated much more quickly than anticipated and posed a risk to public safety.